Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has shifted blame from strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee for a lack of goals this season, passing some of the “responsibility” for the pair’s struggles and others throughout the team this season.
Hojlund has only appeared once in his last 14 Premier League appearances. For Zirkzee, his brace against Everton on December 1st was his only goal tally in the competition since a heroic debut in August. Between them they have five league games in 41 combined games.
United’s winning goal against Fulham on Sunday was scored by Martinez, who started in an attacking spirit because Ruben Amorim’s system gave him the freedom to progress.
But the Argentine has admitted that United midfielders, wingers and defenders need to be better from their strikers, although it can be a two-way street either.
“Absolutely we take responsibility. I think we played a lot of long balls [Hojlund and Zirkzee]and certainly it is difficult for them, especially because they are fighting against two central defenders. The centre-backs here in the Premier League are really difficult,” Martinez told reporters.
“[Hojlund and Zirkzee] also have to do better. They are really good players but I think we have to keep going [to do] More, and put them in better spaces on the pitch. We have to find them in the right places, dangerous places, to achieve them. “
Hojlund has improved considerably in European competition this season, scoring five in seven Europa League appearances. It was a similar pattern for Dane in Europe last season, scoring five times in the Champions League before making one appearance in the Premier League.
Hojlund scored 16 times in all competitions for United in 2023/24, while Zirkzee picked up 12 – as well as seven assists – for former club Bologna in Serie A and the Coppa Italia.